Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| folla | /ˈfɔl.la/ /ˈfol.la/ |
feminine |
| turba | /ˈtur.ba/ | feminine |
| torma | /ˈtor.ma/ | feminine |
| fiumana | /fjuˈma.na/ | feminine |
| stuolo | /ˈstwɔ.lo/ | masculine |
| massa | /ˈmas.sa/ | feminine |
| moltitudine | /mol.tiˈtu.di.ne/ | feminine |
The term folla is the most common and versatile word used to describe a general crowd of people.
Which one should you use?
While folla is a neutral term, turba describes a crowd that is confused, agitated or disorderly. The word massa refers to a large, undifferentiated mass of people and can sometimes imply a lack of individuality. In literature, you may encounter fiumana, which is a metaphorical term used to describe a crowd moving like a human tide or a river. The word stuolo and torma are also forms used for groups of people.
How does it change in a sentence?
Folla is a feminine singular noun, so any accompanying adjectives must be in the feminine form. For example, la folla means 'the crowd' and le folle means 'the crowds'.
How do you pronounce it?
folla is pronounced /ˈfɔl.la/.
Did you know?
- The word folla is derived from the verb follare, which means to tread or trample. This suggests the original image of a crowd was one where people are stepping on one another.
- The word turba is closely related to the English word 'disturbance'. Both stem from the Latin turba, which referred to a confused or tumultuous crowd.
- While 'crowd' in English is often neutral, the Italian word stuolo is quite formal and is most commonly found in historical texts or high literature.
Examples in context
- Tom parlò alla folla.Tom spoke to the crowd.This sentence is useful for showing how someone might address a crowd using folla.Tatoeba #4506759 by Guybrush88, translation #4502239 by CK
- La folla è impazzita.The crowd went wild.This sentence is useful for describing the behavior of a crowd using folla.Tatoeba #7330582 by Guybrush88, translation #2679087 by Hybrid
- La folla ha applaudito.The crowd applauded.This sentence is useful for describing an action performed by a crowd using folla.Tatoeba #4546643 by Guybrush88, translation #2252564 by CK
- La folla si era radunata per ascoltare il discorsoThe crowd had gathered to listen to the speech
- Una moltitudine di persone partecipò alla manifestazioneA multitude of people took part in the demonstration
- C'era tanta gente alla festaThere were a lot of people at the party
- 82 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Giulia and Alessandro are walking in a city square.
- GiuliaC'è una folla enorme in centro.There is a huge crowd downtown.
- AlessandroSì, la folla sembra molto agitata.Yes, the crowd seems very agitated.
- GiuliaAlessandro, non mi piace stare in mezzo alla folla.Alessandro, I don't like being in the middle of the crowd.
- AlessandroAllora torniamo a casa subito.Then let's go home right away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “crowd” translations and entries folla, turba, torma, fiumana, stuolo, massa, moltitudine, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries fiumana, folla, torma, turba, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
